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Anxiolytic Effects of Steroid Hormones during the Estrous Cycle

Interactions with Ethanol

  • Chapter
Book cover Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Developments in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 12))

Abstract

Behavioral differences in anxiety have been observed between both males and females and across the ovarian cycle in females. However, the data are not entirely consistent and the mechanisms of this potential interaction are largely unexplored. It appears that the GABA/BZ receptor complex is a site of action for steroids as well as for many anxiolytic drugs. Both natural steroids, such as progesterone and its metabolites, and synthetic steroids, such as alphaxalone, reduce anxiety-like behavior in rats. Alphaxalone also reverses the behavioral effects of potent anxiogenic agents in the conflict test of anxiety. Studies reported here found that ethanol administered to rats in different phases of the estrous cycle was more effective as an anxiolytic when hormone levels were high. The anticonflict response to chlordiazepoxide also was examined in ovariectomized and steroid-replaced female rats. Insight into the mechanisms and sites of action for these steroids can be gained from such an approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropharmacology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 92037

    Michelle D. Brot & George F. Koob

  2. Department of Psychiatry, VA Medical Center and University of California, San Diego, California, 92161

    Karen T. Britton

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  1. Michelle D. Brot
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  2. George F. Koob
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  3. Karen T. Britton
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

    Marc Galanter (Associate Editor) (Associate Editor)

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Brot, M.D., Koob, G.F., Britton, K.T. (2002). Anxiolytic Effects of Steroid Hormones during the Estrous Cycle. In: Galanter, M., et al. Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 12. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47138-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47138-8_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44921-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47138-4

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